One Hot Dog – How to Care for your Dog in those Hot Summer Months
Everyone loves summer – the sun, the warmth, and the fresh air. Everyone wants to spend more time outside during the warmer months, and chances are your dog does, too. Here are some tips on how to care for your dog during those hot summer months.
First, consider the heat. If you are hot, chances are your dog is too. Dogs can get sick from heat stroke the same as their human owners can. Try to stay inside where it is cool during the hottest part of the day. Save walks and exercise for mornings or evenings when it is cooler. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, make sure that he has plenty of shade or a doghouse where he can cool off. Never leave your dog inside a parked car – temperatures inside a car can soar in a matter of minutes. Use common sense – if you would not do something yourself or let you child do it because of the heat – you should not let your dog do it either.
Remember your fluids – as the temperatures soar so does you and your dog’s need to stay hydrated. Make sure that your dog has plenty of fresh water available at all times. If you are traveling with your dog make sure that you take water with you. It is also handy to carry a travel dish with you for extended walks or trips to the park. If your dog spends a lot of time alone outdoors, make sure that he has at least two water sources in different locations. That way, if one gets tipped over and spills, he still has an alternative supply. If your dog plays with his dishes, consider getting heavy ceramic ones that he cannot tip or a trough like is used for livestock.
Watch out for pests! As the weather warms up, the bugs start to multiply. Summertime is prime season for disease-carrying pests. Make sure that your dog is current on heartworm and flea preventative and gets regular stool checks for intestinal parasites. If you live or travel to wooded areas where there are ticks, talk to your vet about getting a Lyme disease vaccination for your dog.
Be aware of other animals. Just as your dog is out more, so will other animals in the neighborhood. This will include other dogs, cats, and wildlife. Keep a close eye on your dog when out walking to prevent a dash in front of car while chasing a squirrel. Watch out for skunks after dark to prevent a stinky encounter. With the increased activity in the neighborhood, your dog may be more tempted to wander off. Take precautions to make sure that backyards are fenced in with no gaps in the fencing or underneath it, gates are shut, and that your dog uses a leash when out away from the home.
Make sure that you know the signs to watch for during the summer months. If a dog’s rectal temperature is above 105 degrees, he is in danger of developing heat stroke. If you are unable to take his temperature, looking for heavy panting, dark red gums (though this may be difficult to tell if your dog has a black mouth) and he might feel warm to the touch. Soak him in cold water and get him to a vet as soon as possible for treatment.
Be aware of tempting cool down places in your neighborhood. Dogs may be encouraged to jump into pools or ponds to cool off, and then not know how to get out and drown. If they are without water, they may be tempted to drink antifreeze or other dangerous liquids in an attempt to hydrate. Take the appropriate precautions to make sure that your yard is safe.
Prepare for the worst. Unfortunately, as the weather turns nicer, some pets become more inclined to roam away from home to investigate the great outdoors. Make sure that your dog has identification tags on and that the information is current. You might also want to consider getting your dog micro-chipped. Keep a current photo of your dog on hand to be able to duplicate in the case you need to make fliers.
With just a little preparation, both you and your dog will be ready for summer fun!
Chill Out: Keeping Your Dog Cool in the Hot Summer Sun
Summer is typically a time of great family fun and activity. The days are long and warm, the kids are on vacation, and the sun worshipers are out in full force. Unfortunately, the season also brings with it some very specific hazards - sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Not only are these hazards a threat to your human family, they can endanger the lives of your furry family members as well. As temperatures soar, your dog will need a little attention in order to ensure his safety.
Protecting Your Dog from a Nasty Sunburn
Many people don’t realize that dogs, just like humans, can be burned by the sun. So what can you do to protect your pooch from those burning rays? Just use the same common sense and know-how that keeps you and your family from burning up in the sun. First, keep your dog in the shade during those times when the sun’s rays are most intense – approximately 10 am to 4 pm. Second, apply a little sun block to your dog’s most exposed areas – the tip of each ear and the nose. While your dog’s lip area is also vulnerable to sunburn, the chance that your dog will ingest any sunscreen applied there is too great. Instead of applying sunscreen to the lip area, just keep a close eye on it and make sure that the area doesn’t get too pink. Third, pay special attention to your dog if he has a lighter colored fur. Just like their pale human counterparts, these dogs are more vulnerable to the burning effects of the sun. If, after a day out in the sun, any portion of your dog’s skin is reddened or blistered, immediately seek a veterinarian’s opinion and care.
Protecting Your Dog from Heat-Related Conditions
Just a few simple actions on your part can help protect your dog from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. First, never leave your dog in the car without the air conditioner running. Even a few minutes in the sun can send the interior temperature of a car (with windows open or closed) soaring to fatal temperatures. If you’re doing errands and know that you’ll be in and out of the vehicle, your safest option is to simply leave the dog at home. However, if you really must leave your dog in the car for even the shortest period of time, leave the air conditioner on.
Second, provide your dog with a shaded, well-ventilated resting area that will remain shaded at all times, regardless of the sun’s position. You may have to move the dog’s shade throughout the day in order to achieve this. Of course, during the most excruciating heat of the day, the ideal place for your dog is an air conditioned structure.
Third, make sure that your dog has unhindered access to cool, clean water. You’ll want to place the water in a shaded area so that it does not heat up as a result of direct sunlight. Change the water often, as stagnant water can harbor bacteria and insects that are harmful to a dog’s digestive system. When traveling, make sure that you have a water dish and fresh water (figure on one gallon per day) on hand at all times. If your dog spends all day outside, provide him with a small, shaded wading pool filled with water. Your dog can cool himself off throughout the day by jumping in and out of it. Make sure, however, that the pool is in the same, consistently shaded area as the drinking water.
Fourth, avoid any situation that would force your dog to stand on a sun-baked surface for any length of time. Such surfaces include truck beds, sidewalks, streets and beach sand. The heat can not only burn your dog’s skin, but can also prevent your dog from efficiently expelling heat from his body. If you must walk your dog in the heat of the day, walk him on a grassy area.
Recognizing and Treating Your Dog’s Heat Stroke
If your dog’s body temperature gets too high, he could develop heat stroke, or hyperthermia. In addition to a high body temperature (over 105 – 110 degrees F), the signs that indicate potential heat stroke are: an inordinate amount of panting, labored breathing, bright red gums or eye membranes, pronounced fatigue, collapse, unconsciousness and seizures. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, get him out of the heat immediately and into the shade. If possible, put your dog in a tub of cool water or bathe him with a series of cool, wet towels. Do not use cold water or ice! Either will cause your dog’s blood vessels to constrict and impede the body from being able to release heat. Heat stroke should be treated as an emergency; therefore, as soon as possible, seek a veterinarian’s care.
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